More than 250 of the earliest photographs highlighting the past, including images from the Middle East, as well as some of the oldest images taken in India, the Philippines and elsewhere will be showcased in the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s upcoming inaugural photography exhibition, ‘Photographs 1842 – 1896: An Early Album of the World’.

Taking place from 25th April to 13th July 2019, the exhibition will explore the development of photography in its first years of existence. Reflecting the universal character of Louvre Abu Dhabi, as well as its chrono-thematic curatorial approach, the exhibition will include images taken in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Organised by Louvre Abu Dhabi, musee du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac and Agence France-Museums, and sponsored by the Bank of Sharjah, the exhibition will track the dissemination of photography as a form of documentation and an instrument of discovering and understanding the world and its people, through a wide selection of over 250 historic photographs taken between 1842 and 1896.

The works on show mainly originate from musee du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac’s collection, which includes some of the earliest photographs produced outside Europe. These will be complemented by several exceptional loans from the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, musee national des arts asiatiques – Guimet, Musee d’Orsay, la Societe de Geographie and La Cite de la Ceramique – Sevres & Limoges.

Commenting on the announcement, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said, “Photography is one of the most important tools that has contributed to documenting the history of the world and its diverse cultures. In order to showcase part of our inspiring human heritage, we present the exhibition Photographs 1842 – 1896: An Early Album of the World at Louvre Abu Dhabi.

“The exhibition is yet another example of the richness of Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene, which is a mix of the world’s cultures and arts, making Abu Dhabi a cultural destination for visitors from around the world. When visiting Louvre Abu Dhabi this summer, visitors will be able to travel to new places and explore different regions of the world through the eyes of 19th Century European travellers in the museum’s first-ever photography exhibition.”

Manuel Rabate, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said, “We are looking forward to Louvre Abu Dhabi’s first photography exhibition, which will be part of our cultural season ‘A World of Exchanges’. Photographs 1842 – 1896: An Early Album of the World explores the role of photography in enabling the sharing of photographs from around the world, documenting peoples’ lives and environments. Pioneering photographers played a key role in making other cultures visible and accessible to people back home, the same way our audiences record their daily experiences to share them with their family, friends and online communities.”

Entrance to the exhibition is free with the museum ticket. Admission is free for children under the age of 13.